Tuesday September 12th, 2023
« ” Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow »
20 when Elisha’s servant Gehazi said to himself, “My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living Lord I will run after him and get something from him.”
21 So he set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked, “Is something wrong?”
22 “No,” Gehazi answered. “But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived, and he would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes.”
23 “Please take six thousand pieces of silver,” Naaman replied. He insisted on it, tied up the silver in two bags, gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi.
24 When they reached the hill where Elisha lived, Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman’s servants back.
25 He went back into the house, and Elisha asked him, “Where have you been?” “Oh, nowhere, sir,” he answered.
26 But Elisha said, “Wasn’t I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants!
27 And now Naaman’s disease will come upon you, and you and your descendants will have it forever!” When Gehazi left, he had the disease—his skin was as white as snow.
Understand
It is important to make the right choices in life, especially because one’s children could also be affected by them.
When the army that invaded Sodom took Lot into captivity in Genesis 14:8-12 they didn’t leave his children at home. The children were taken into captivity because their father made the choice to stay in Sodom.
Kora, Dathan and Abiram decided to oppose Moses and they died with all their family members (Numbers 16:28-33).
Gehazi decided to follow Naaman to get some gifts, even though he knew his master would not approve. When Elisha cursed Gehazi with leprosy, he said it would be on him and his seed forever (2 Kings 5:27).
In Daniel 6, when some people decided to plot against Daniel so that he could die in the lions’ den, their children were not called to the meeting; however, when Daniel came out of the den alive and the king summoned those who plotted so that he could throw them in the lions’ den, he asked that their wives and children suffer the same consequences.
It may interest you to know that the choices of your relatives and close friends also have an impact on you.
Thus, when a relative is making wrong choices, warn him or her because when trouble comes, this individual wouldn’t be the only one to suffer. This is particularly true of your children.
If your child is going the wrong way, warn the child and do everything in your power to ensure that he or she returns to the godly path. Proverbs 29:15 CW says
« Corrections and discipline are needed for children. If they always get their own way, they will bring shame to their parent »
Even if a person does not suffer anything as a direct result of not correcting his or her child, such a person would still experience shame, and this is a terrible thing.
The elders say that one can get embarrassed once, but shame lasts forever.
You don’t want to live in shame forever just because you did not warn your child when he or she started going wrong.
You therefore need to be very particular about the choices your children make.
Don’t just leave them to themselves – guide them, while depending on the Holy Spirit to help you know which way is best for the child.
Prayer focus: Father, help me to guide my children to always make godly choices in life, in Jesus’ name.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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